While at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, former Milan player and current sporting director Paolo Maldini spoke on his youth, Milan manager Rino Gattuso, and Silvio Berlusconi.
"I was ten years old when I started playing," began Maldini. "I bought shoes with my mother on Corso Buenos Aires. I went there and they lined me up as a right wing. Up until my debut, I didn't think I was good enough to play in Serie A. Coming back on the bus, though, I realized I could play. Even today there are talents, but the system doesn't help them. They leave their youth programs and aren't even ready yet for Serie C. This must make the Federation reflect on the second teams."
Maldini then spoke on former teammate and current Milan manager Rino Gattuso: "Rino has a great sense of belonging, which is the first thing Leonardo and I wanted to transmit. Now it's changing the vision others have of Gattuso. He's not just grit and has also made a jump forward from a technical and tactical standpoint. We are truly confident in him. He was courageous to accept the Milan bench and has a great talent to know how to listen."
Maldini ended with some words of affection for Silvio Berlusconi: "My president. A visionary. He told us that we'd become the strongest team in the world and we laughed a little at that. But when Sacchi arrived, we realized that he was not a normal person. Are there still presidents who are so passionate? It will always be more difficult to have an entrepreneur manage squads of such a high level. The club gives the passion, and that's key to our success. Milan-Monza at San Siro? If you ask me, they'll do it. Galliani's eyes light up when he talks about soccer. I lived extraordinary moments with him, as well as some arguments, which is normal to resolve problems. I want people next to me that tells me how things are, rather than just telling me I'm right. This is the only way you grow."
